Warrant Articles protecting Rehoboth's Natural Resources

At the Saturday May 14, 2022 Town meeting will be two articles placed by the Rehoboth Conservation Commission. One concerns the changing control of six parcels from Town of Rehoboth to Town Of Rehoboth Conservation Commission. These parcels were either donated to the town for conservation purposes or bought by the town with Community Preservation Act funds for open space use such as hiking, nature study or in one case possible continued agricultural use. Putting the titles in the Commission's name offers more protection for the parcels plus gives the commission more oversight control of how the parcels are used. Over the past several years the commission has increased acreage of our public lands by many hundreds of acres of woodlands, fields, wetlands, and some waterways all available for the citizen's use. In the coming years we will be building trails including trails for the disabled, something that does not exist now, doing wildlife management, and other passive uses of our acquired open spaces.

Allowing title to be in the Commission's name makes applying for grants, working with volunteers, hiring contractors if necessary that much easier. The parcels are jewels that will help keep the rural nature that many have come to treasure. Adding another layer of protection will ensure these will stay open for generations to come.

The second article is a Bylaw for the enforcement of the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the Rivers Protection Act. When I first joined the Conservation Commission in 2000, violations were unusual totaling maybe ten in the course of a year, now in 2022, we have ten on the Agenda for just the early part of the year.

Most people don't realize when they are in violation of either act, when the violation is brought to their attention, they are apologetic and more than willing to fix the violation. This enforcement article is not geared towards them. The article is to address the issue of the few violators who refuse to remediate the violation or choose to completely ignore the Commission. Presently the Commission has little recourse to force them to restore whatever damage they have caused or have them prevent future damage. By passing this bylaw we will be able to issue civil penalties to those few who choose not to comply with requirements. Wetlands are important to the health of our citizens, farmers, and flora and fauna who depend on the wetlands. Wetlands absorb rainfall and snowmelt, slowly releasing the water, lessening the impacts of flooding and holding water into summer, releasing it when the farmers need to irrigate.

Restoring a wetland takes time and often money, it is not fair to the conscientious citizens who do the right thing to ignore those who refuse. This bylaw is not a reinvention of the wheel, it is modeled after the bylaw that the Gravel Committee has now plus almost all the surrounding towns have already passed similar bylaws. Let me be clear, we do not want to issue fines, but something has to be done. The violators who ignore us take up time that could be used for reviewing applications, building trails and other projects.

Please attend town meeting and help the Conservation Commission pass these two important Warrant Articles.

Sincerely,
Robert Materne
Chair, Rehoboth Conservation Commission